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COMMERCE – The last time the Texans defeated the Lions in the Texas A&M-Commerce Field House was in what was the biggest game in the program's history at the time – the 2005 NCAA Division II South Central Regional championship game. However, on Saturday, head coach Lonn Reisman's squad used two big runs to claim a 68-55 Lone Star Conference crossover victory.
“We were looking for a signature win against a great team,” Reisman said. “This was a big win on the road, and we had to see what kind of road team we could be.”
Tarleton had lost two straight to TAMUC in Commerce and two straight overall contests before the win Saturday as the Texans improved to 12-2 overall.
Tarleton went on an 18-0 run from the last two baskets of the second half through the first three minutes of the second period to take a 43-25 lead with 16:55 left in the game. However, the
“We didn't run our offense very well, and that had a lot to do with their defense,” Reisman said. “Then we spread the floor and let our three great ball handlers do what they can do. I believe that is what stopped their run.”
The Texans then scored 18 of the final 27 points of the contest to take control after the surge by the Lions.
“This Lions' team is going to win a lot of games,” Reisman said. “This is a very good basketball team, and I believe this might be their best team since the 2004-05 squad we defeated here in the regional championship game.”
Devon Hills led the Texans with 24 points on Saturday, and the junior was very specific about the squad needing to get this game.
“We needed to make a statement for Tarleton by stealing a game on the road from a good team, and we did that today,” Hills said.
TAMUC jumped out to a 3-0 lead before a three by Jeremiah Wilson from the top of the key tied the game with 17:57 on the clock. The home team scored the next three points before Donta Smith had two free throws at 16:04 to cut the lead to one, 6-5. Again, the Lions scored three straight before Hills had two free throws at 11:13 to make it 11-7 TAMUC.
Warren Webb followed a TAMUC layup before Effran Bryant had a three on a fast break to cut the lead to one (13-12) before Hills had a layup 10 seconds later after a Lion turnover. Tarleton led 14-13 with 9:37 on the clock. Brad Hambrick had a three for the home team before Hills sunk two bonus shots given the Texans after a technical foul called on Cardell Hunter. Hills then got a layup before Preston Whitley had a jumper to make it 18-18 with 7:22 on the clock.
With 5:13 remaining in the half, Jeremy Gilbert hit a free throw before a Hills layup and a Corin Henry jumper put Tarleton ahead 23-18 with 3:52 on the clock. TAMUC scored four straight before Henry hit two free throws at 2:27. Ronnie Morgan had a jumper for the Lions with just over two minutes remaining in the period before Smith and Webb had a layup and jumper, respectively. The Texans took a 29-25 lead into the locker room.
Tarleton shot just 33.3 percent from the floor while Hills had 10 points in just 19 minutes for the Texans.
Hills opened the second half with a three to push the Texan lead to six before the junior hit a long-range three from the right corner to make it 34-25 with 18:33 on the clock. Wilson then hit a three from the top of the key over a minute later to stretch the lead to 12 before Lions' coach Sam Walker was called for a technical foul. Hills hit both bonus shots after the bench foul to make it 39-25 with 17:14 remaining in the contest.
Hills got a steal and a dunk and was then intentionally fouled. Hills hit both free throws before Hambrick ended an 18-0 run by the Texans at 16:46. Brian Singleton then had two free throws for the Lions to cut the lead to 14 before Henry had a jumper off the left elbow to end a 6-0 run by the home team. TAMUC then hit six straight before Hills was fouled shooting a three at the 10:17-mark. The Texan hit all three to return the lead to double digits (48-37).
The Lions then had six straight points before Dallas Hunter had a layup and a free throw when he was fouled to cut the lead to two, 48-46 with just over eight minutes left in the contest. Henry then got the first bucket since the 15:07-mark when he had a layup at 7:49. Smith had a free throw at 6:53 to push the lead to five prior to the Texan junior getting a layup at 5:44. After a Hambrick free throw, Bryant nailed a three from the left side to make it 56-49.
Sammy Jackson and Bryant traded a layup and a three, respectively, as the Texans took a 10-point advantage at 3:46 (59-49). Henry then traded the same with Hambrick to make it a nine-point game with just over three minutes left. With 2:10 remaining in the half, Henry went to the line and hit two shots. Henry added another bonus shot at 1:37 before Morgan had two for the Lions 14 seconds later.
Henry hit two more of his own with 76 ticks left to make it a 12-point contest before Wilson got a huge block on the other end before Hills was called for a foul. Jackson went to the line and hit the backend of the two shot foul. Bryant was then fouled to stop the clock with 40.3 seconds left, and the senior hit both free shots to give Tarleton the victory, 68-55.
Hills led the team with 24 points while Henry 915) and Bryant (11) also scored in double figures. Henry led the squad with eight rebounds while Wilson and Smith were second with seven boards apiece.
Tarleton averaged .404 from the floor (19-47), .222 from the three-point arc (6-27) and .857 from the charity stripe (24-28). Tarleton was outrebounded 34-33.
TAMUC was led by Hambrick with 13 and Singleton with 11 while Hambrick's seven rebounds led the home team.
The Lions averaged .358 from the field (19-53), .286 from the arc (4-14) and .650 from the line (13-20).
The Texans will return to action in their final non-conference contest on Monday, Jan. 11 at Dallas Baptist. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.
